Smackover Chamber holds ribbon cutting for MLK Park renovations

Smackover Chamber members gathered with MLK Park fundraisers and city officials to cut the ribbon to celebrate ongoing renovations to the central basketball court at the park. Fundraising organizer Neil Richardson was given the task of cutting the ribbon. (Matt Hutcheson/News-Times)
Smackover Chamber members gathered with MLK Park fundraisers and city officials to cut the ribbon to celebrate ongoing renovations to the central basketball court at the park. Fundraising organizer Neil Richardson was given the task of cutting the ribbon. (Matt Hutcheson/News-Times)

The basketball courts located at Smackover’s MLK park were for years a beacon for aspiring players across the county and beyond.

Smackover council member Paul Givens recalls when the park had only a dirt court and two goals, which eventually became the two courts now present at the site.

Generations of Union County natives played on the courts as kids, meeting friends and learning the game as they did it.

Neil Richardson was one of those people and, after seeing that the courts were used less and in disrepair, decided to do something about it. He reached out to Givens and spoke about organizing a fundraising effort and partnering with the city.

“God planted the seed in my head and it just took off from there… I’m excited to be a part of it,” Richardson said.

Paving of the court took place on Thursday, June 17, after delays due to constant rainfall. The court will still not be ready for play for at least another week or two, but the end of the project is now well within sight and some of those involved in its restoration gathered on Friday to celebrate.

The Smackover Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting on the court to mark the occasion and Chamber members and officers were joined by several of the fundraisers and representatives from the city.

Some of the fundraisers present on Friday expressed a desire for the court and park to become what it was for previous generations - a place for young people to gather and a suitable location for different community events.

Shirley Wilkins and Sammie Monroe have lived next to the park for decades and were watching as the court was being paved on Thursday.

Shirley Wilkins and Sammie Monroe have lived beside MLK Park in Smackover for decades and watched Thursday morning as the basketball court was paved. Both expressed excitement at the renovations and the future of the park. (Matt Hutcheson/News-Times)
Shirley Wilkins and Sammie Monroe have lived beside MLK Park in Smackover for decades and watched Thursday morning as the basketball court was paved. Both expressed excitement at the renovations and the future of the park. (Matt Hutcheson/News-Times)

Wilkins said she has seen generations of young men, including her oldest grandson, play on the courts and is excited to see what the future holds for the park.

“I’m glad they’re improving the basketball court; I’d love to see my other grandchildren play on it as well. We even used to go to the park and have cookouts there,” Wilkins said.

The court currently being renovated is one part of a park that includes a pavilion, a small playground and a second basketball court.

Several other renovations are expected to be added, including new water fountains.

The court was discussed during several Smackover council meetings. In February, the council voted to assist the fundraisers and in April, the two new goals were ordered.

Smackover Mayor Bobby Neal announced that $6,750.57 had been turned in from the fundraisers in May.

Today, events will be held at MLK Park to celebrate the renovations as well as Juneteenth, now officially a federal holiday.

Events will kick off at noon with a welcome ceremony. At 12:30 will be a skills competition on the secondary outdoor court, followed by a Juneteenth and youth empowerment address from Terry Harden at 2 p.m.

At 2:30, a free throw knockout competition is set to take place, followed by speaker Trey Tatum at 3:30.

At 4:30, Jonathan “Pookie” Modica is set to deliver a youth empowerment-focused speech. The day will conclude with an “old school vs. new school” matchup at 5 p.m., pitting those who have played throughout the years at the MLK Park court against each other for a bit of friendly competition.

The park is located near the end of Martin Luther King, Jr. Street in Smackover.

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